How to make the most of your VA
A good virtual assistant (VA) is worth their weight in gold. They are not just there to organise your diary and do the odd task here and there, they are talented individuals, usually with a variety of marketable skills. In this blog we’ll explore how to make the most of your VA because the right person will have a positive impact on your business.
Take your time with the hiring process
It’s massively important to hire a VA who has the right skills and personality for your business. It will take time for them to get up to speed with the way you work and with your business, so don’t be afraid to take your time in the hiring process. That’s why we do such in-depth interviews with new clients and with new VAs before welcoming them on board. Draw up a detailed job description so we have all the information we need on which administrative services you require as well as the additional skills you're looking for.
Getting to know both sides so well means we can be confident we can pair you with a VA who not only has the skill set your business needs but also has a good work ethic and compatible personality.
Always be clear and honest about the tasks you’re planning to hand over to your VA so they have a good understanding of the work they’ll be doing for you. If it is not the kind of work they’re looking for, they can say so before you’ve invested time and money in them.
The better you get to know your VA, the more likely it is that you’ll discover they have other skills that are useful to your business. All VAs will support you with daily operations such as administrative tasks, email management, calendar management and travel arrangements. Many VAs are happy to take on more responsibilities such as social media management or blog writing, and others have expertise in website content management, HR, bookkeeping, or events management. They can also help you research potential leads and find more clients, enabling you to grow your business. You’ll never know unless you ask. There are many and varied reasons why people want to work for themselves from home, so maybe they’ll surprise you by having a less obvious vocational skill that would really benefit your business.
Keep in regular contact with your VA
A good working relationship is one with constant communication. There are so many different ways of keeping in touch - whether it’s via Zoom, WhatsApp, email or good old-fashioned telephone, it’s easy to brief each other, even if you’re in different time zones. It’s also a good idea to schedule regular meetings to catch up with each other and provide updates on the progress of your work so you can make sure you’re both singing from the same hymn sheet.
Use a task-setting system you’re both comfortable with
There are online systems - such as Asana or Trello - available that make it easy for you to assign tasks to your VA, set a deadline, write notes and collate all the information they’ll need in one place. In this way you can assign tasks at any time and your VA will be able to pick them up next time they log on.
Remember to delegate
Your VA is there to help you. Once they have got up to speed with your work, they will be able to take tasks off your hands - usually those tasks that take your focus away from your core business. As time goes on, they should be able to take on more tasks themselves, taking that responsibility off your shoulders. Also, don’t be afraid to ask them if they’d be interested in taking on new tasks that they’d need additional training in. Remember, they are business owners too, and they will be eager to explore new ways of expanding their own business by learning new marketable skills. VAs are usually fast learners and more than willing to help out as much as possible.
Talk to us about our virtual business solutions
Our highly organised VAs are hand picked for their skills, board-level experience and professionalism. We work hard to introduce you to the VA who will have not only the skills you need, but also the personality to fit in well with you and your brand. If you would like to hire a new VA, please contact us so we can talk about your needs and chat about the next steps.